PINEHURST, N.C. (Aug. 20, 2018) – After the first round of the North & South Senior Amateur, three men share the first-round lead at famous Pinehurst No. 5. Eddie Hargett, John Ambridge and Walter Todd are all at 2-under 70.

Todd’s round was perhaps the cleanest, considering there were only two birdies and 16 pars. Todd is a recognizable name in senior golf events around the Southeast. Already this year, Todd won the Lowcountry Senior Invitational and had top-5 finishes at the Jones Cup Senior (which he won in 2017) and the Chanticleer Senior.

Ambridge and Hargett each birdied the 17th coming in to reach 2 under. Ambridge, an Englishman, has finished inside the top 50 at the British Senior Amateur each of the past three years. Hargett, meanwhile, finished second at the Chanticleer Senior and T-3 at the Gasparilla Senior.

Defending champion Todd Hendley cruised through the first 10 holes, birdied No. 11, then went 3 over on Nos. 12 and 13. He finished the day tied for 16th at 2-over 74.

A year ago, Hendley defeated Paul Simson in a playoff to win the North & South. Simson, who, with eight wins lifetime in the North & South Men’s Amateur and the Senior North & South, is the all-time winningest player in Pinehurst history. But Simson isn’t in the field this year.

SUPER SENIOR

In the super-senior, Jerry Ishee and Robert Cloud are tied atop the leaderboard and also at 2-under 70 on Pinehurst No. 2. Ishee birided his final two holes to get to that number and Cloud had a colorful card – three birdies, three bogeys and an eagle.

Ilshee and Cloud were the only two players to get under par in the first round, but Evan Long is solo third at even par.

Part of the annual North & South series of
tournaments at Pinehurst that include Men's,
Women's, Juniors and Seniors. Entries are open
to
male and female golfers who meet the
requirements below. All applicants must conform
to the USGA Rules of Amateur Status and meet
the requirements of the USGA Gender Policy.

In the Men's Open Division, applicants must have
reached 55 years of age by tournament date to
be eligible for competition. All applicants must
have a handicap index of 8.4 or less.
In the Men's Super-Senior Division, applicants
must have reached 65 years of age by
tournament date to be eligible for competition.
All applicants must have a handicap index 10.4
or
less.

FORMAT: 54-holes of stroke play will determine
the Champion. Play will be divided into four
divisions (Men’s Open, Men’s Super-Senior,
Women’s Open, and Women’s Super-Senior) and
contested with one round each on Pinehurst No.
1, No. 5, No. 8. A full field will consist of 90
Open
Men and 90 Super-Senior Men.